A novel approach to assess sustainability of supply chains

PurposeThis paper discusses how learning-by-doing (LBD) criterion can be used to evaluate the sustainability of supply chains. This paper assesses the impacts of teamwork on the LBD criterion. Besides, the effect of the internship of new labors on the LBD criterion is discussed.Design/methodology/approachThe repeat of a task leads to a gradual improvement in the efficiency of production systems. LBD occurs by accumulating knowledge and skills in multiple periods. LBD can be used to study changes in the efficiency. Efficiency can be improved by accumulating knowledge and skills. In this paper, the LBD criterion is projected on learning curve (LC) models. Furthermore, the LC models are fitted to the supply chains. Each supply chain may have a unique LC model. A minimum difference is set between the current performance of decision making unit (DMU) and the estimated performance of DMU based on DMU's LC. Hence, a point in which the LBD occurs is determined.FindingsThis paper develops an inverse network dynamic data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to assess the sustainability of supply chains DMUs. Findings imply that the LBD criterion plays an important role in assessing the sustainability of supply chains. Furthermore, managers should increase the internships and teamwork to get more benefit from the LBD criterion.Originality/valueFor the first time, this paper uses the LBD criterion to assess the sustainability of supply chains given the LC equations.

Hesitant Fuzzy-Stochastic Data Envelopment Analysis (HF-SDEA) Model for Benchmarking

The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is a method commonly used in benchmarking. The Dynamic Data Envelopment Analysis (DDEA) method was proposed to improve the DEA method in the benchmarking process. The DDEA method proposed can determine the effectiveness of the Decision Making Unit (DMU). The disadvantage of the DDEA model is that it cannot handle problems that involve benchmarking for stochastic data. To improve the DDEA method, the Stochastic Data Envelopment Analysis (SDEA) method is proposed which can be used for benchmarking involving stochastic data. The SDEA method itself has weaknesses in dealing with noise and uncertainty problems that will appear in the assessment process. The purpose of the research conducted by the researcher was to use the Hesitant Fuzzy method in optimizing the SDEA method so that the Hesitant Fuzzy model - Stochastic Data Envelopment Analysis (HF-SDEA) could be carried out benchmarking process in a situation where the assessment contained many elements of uncertainty. The results of this study are benchmarking methods that can do benchmarking for stochastic data on conditions that contain elements of uncertainty.

A longitudinal Perspective on Efficiency of Airlines in Europe and the U.S

The aviation industries in Europe and the US have been well-established since a very early age and have attracted great attention from both industry practitioners and academics. To derive a different perspective on the efficiency levels of airlines operating in the two matured markets, we adopted dynamic data envelopment analysis (DEA). Using the data of the period 2014 – 2016 of 7 European airlines and 9 US airlines that are publicly traded, the study offers an overall picture of airlines' efficiency in the two regions. Notably, the resource flow between the consecutive periods is incorporated into the measure to yield a longitudinal perspective on airlines' efficiency. The study reveals the two major findings. First, most publicly traded airlines in Europe and the US are efficient, except for Hawaiian airline headquartered in the US. Second, Hawaiian airline's inefficiency is majorly contributed by the overuse of the number of employees, consumed fuel, and the deficit of revenue seat-miles in 2014 and 2015. To improve the efficiency level, Hawaiian airlines could consider increasing employee productivity, using more fuel-efficient aircraft, and implementing new marketing strategies to boost sales.

Degrees of Shortage and Uncovered Ratios for Long-Term Care in Taiwan’s Regions: Evidence from Dynamic DEA

The government is facing the country’s aging population and low birth rate have led to a severe shortage of its healthcare workforce in Taiwan after 2003. In order to explore the status of the country’s degree of long-term care shortage and uncovered ratio, this research uses the Push-Pull-Mooring (PPM) theory to explain long-term care efficiency during 2010–2019 in each city and county. We collect longitudinal-sectional data for 2010–2019 from the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Department of Statistics for 22 administrative regions in Taiwan in each year and employ dynamic data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the overall technical efficiency and the disaggregate output insufficiency to explain the research results. The main findings are as follows: (1) Cities near the capital Taipei have the highest degree of shortages in long-term caregivers and high uncovered ratios of people who need long-term care. (2) Presently, there is no demand to increase the number of long-term care institutions in Taiwan. (3) The government should introduce new long-term care certificates through national examinations in order to develop a stronger professional workforce in this field.

Social Networks and Dynamic Firm Performance: Evidence from the Taiwanese Semiconductor Industry

Redes sociales y rendimiento dinámico de la empresa: Evidencia de la industria de semiconductores de Taiwán. Este estudio examina la relación entre la interconexión del consejo directivo y el rendimiento de la empresa. Utilizando datos de la industria de semiconductores de Taiwán de 2013 a 2015, este estudio utiliza la centralidad, los agujeros de la estructura y el número de interconexiones entre consejos directivos como proxies de la interconexión de los consejos directivos. Este estudio también evalúa el rendimiento de la empresa a largo plazo mediante un modelo de análisis envolvente de datos dinámicos. donde se concluye que la interconexión de los directivos mejora la eficiencia dinámica. Utilizando un análisis de la red social de los directivos, también identificamos las cinco mejores empresas con mejor interconexión del consejo directivo en términos de centralidad, agujeros estructurales, y el número de directores interconectados. En general, este trabajo es novedoso en la vinculación de la interconexión de los directivos con la eficiencia dinámica. El estudio enriquece la literatura contable existente sobre el papel de los directivos para influir en el rendimiento de la empresa y evaluar éste desde una perspectiva de eficiencia multidimensional. This study examines the relationship between board interlock and firm performance. Using the Taiwanese semiconductor industry’s dataset from 2013 to 2015, this study uses centrality, structure holes, and the number of interlocking boards as proxies of board interlock. This study also evaluates firm performance over a long-term period through a dynamic data envelopment analysis model. which concluded that board interlock improves dynamic efficiency. Using a directors’ social network analysis, we also identified the top five companies with the best board interlock in terms of centrality, structural holes, and the number of interlocking directors. Overall, this paper is novel in linking board interlock to dynamic efficiency. The study enriches the extant accounting literature regarding the role of directors in influencing firm performance and evaluate firm performance from a multidimensional efficiency perspective.